Russia doping scandal: US backs ‘exposure of effort to take over sport by unlawful means’

Kelly Sotherton (left) races against the Russian Tatyana Chernova, who was later banned (GETTY)

Russia remained defiant in the face of the Wada report, with Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko threatening to cut all government funding for anti-doping work because of the attack on his country’s record in the fight against drugs and another official claiming the report was a “political hit job”.

Wada has accused the Russian anti-doping agency (RUSADA) of being under improper influence from Mutko’s ministry, that it had given athletes advance notice of tests and its employees “routinely” took bribes from athletes to cover up doping.

Mutko reacted by saying “if we have to close this whole system, we would be happy to close it” because “we will only save money”. That would mean no funding for the Russian anti-doping agency or laboratory, he added. Mutko also said Russia was being persecuted over doping – “whatever we do, everything is bad”. He added: “We don’t deny that we have problems, but they exist around the whole world, we have the same per cent as all countries do,”

Nikita Kamaev, executive director of RUSADA said the Wada doping allegations against Russia were groundless, though RUSADA is understood to be preparing its own investigation into the claims. Meanwhile, Artyom Patsev, the lawyer of the All-Russia Athletics Federation, said that if there were any truth to the allegations, Russian athletics would have been suspended “a long time ago”. He added Wada was using vague ethics claims to pressure Russia and said there was “no logic, no common sense” in the recommendation. “This whole case smells of a political hit job and nothing more.”

However, there was support for strong sanctions against Russia from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) which said: “We applaud the work of the Wada Independent Commission... in exposing a Russian effort to take over sport through unlawful means.

“The evidence released today demonstrates a shocking level of corruption and sends a clear message to Russia that they will not be allowed to cheat the world’s athletes and escape justice behind a wall of deception and lies. If Russia has created an organised scheme of state-supported doping, then they have no business being allowed to compete on the world stage.”

British Sports Minister Tracey Crouch said: “Anything that challenges the integrity of sport must be addressed head on with strong sanctions.”

Two British athletes denied podium medal presentations were particularly bitter. Jenny Meadows, who had her 800 metres silver at the 2011 European Indoor Championships later upgraded to gold following the disqualification of Russia’s Yevgeniya Zinurova, tweeted: “Always suspected it but finally confirmation that the Russian Athletics Federation have denied me of my finest moments of my career.”

Former GB heptathlete Kelly Sotherton had similar sentiments, writing: “Upset? No... Angry?... No Surprised? No.... Disappointed.... Yes! 2008 Olympics – I was 4th [Russia’s Tatyana] Chernova 3rd. And banned the following year for 3yrs.”

Great Britain’s former marathon world champion Paula Radcliffe said: “Athletics needs to take strong action and move quickly forward in right direction. This is the time clean athletes need to stand up and fight for our sport and credibility.”

Katharine Merry, who won 400 metres bronze for GB at the 2000 Olympics, tweeted: “Not ashamed to say upset today... reading & listening to words that tear into the heart of our sport.”